Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
July 19, 2017 - 3:13 PM
PENTICTON - The 3,300 hectare Princeton wildfire is now 60 per cent contained as evacuees wait to hear when they can go home.
B.C Wildfire says 178 personnel continue to fight the fire today, July 19, with the help of 11 helicopters.
A Saskatchewan Incident Management Team has assumed command of the fire while Princeton fire department and other local authorities assist.
Burn outs, hand guarding and hose lays surrounding the fire continue to take place, with the possibility of lightning and rain in the forecast for the next two days.
The Regional District says no further evacuation notices or alerts have been issued since yesterday when 47 property owners along the Princeton-Summerland Road were allowed to return to their homes.
A manditory evacuation order remains in effect for 303 properties and another 304 are on evacuation alert.
The fire, located 10 kilometres north of Princeton, has resulted in the closure of the Trans Canada Trail from Erris tunnel to the Town of Princeton. Trail users can detour via the Princeton-Summerland Road, which reopened to traffic yesterday.
Regional District director Bob Coyne says evacuees want to get home but remain "amazingly positive and tolerant."
Two information meetings held in Princeton Fire Hall and at the Erris Fire Hall yesterday attracted 200 and 120 people respectively, he says.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017